Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-12
A Successful Persian Governor.

The art of government in Persia is gene- | rally learned after long and arduous ap- premiership. The son of some great man, perhaps when quite a little fellow-a boy, | say, of ten-is sent to an outlying province, district or city, as Governor. But it is a ! merely nominal governorship, the real power being exercised by some experienced cour- tier One of the most successful Governors ! in Persia it has been the writer's lot to know was H. R. H. the Imad-u Dowlet, the "Pillar of the State." For many years the old prince was Governor of the province of | which Kermanshah was the capital. For ! nearly quarter of century he ruled this 1 province with energy and success. He en- riched himself, he enriched his sons, his un- derlings became wealthy men, and he did ! not grind the faces of the poor. During his | lifetime Ardelan seldom suffered from fam 1 inc; and whatever the price of bread was anywhere else in Persia, it was always less in the Imad- -u-Dowlet's government.
 Provincial Governors, though they be the king's own uncles, brothers, or even sons, are looked upon by all Persians as the lawful | prey of the king of kings. In the court phrase a Governor may be "unrlpe, l sssqueezable" or ''ripe." If he has just | joined his appointment and has no private property, then there is nothing to be got out | of him, and it would even be bad policy to ! plunder the man; for the unfortunates under \ his rule, who had been chastised by his pre- | decsssor with whips, would certainly be ! chastised by him with scorpions. When a Governor has been nearly year in his pro ! vince unless there has been 8 famine, or he | is a fool, or he has scruples i(which last is very seldom), he ought tot be decidedly 1 'ssoueezable." If he remain over two years | in his province he should be quite "ripe." The "Asylum of the Universe" which is the commonest title of the King of Persia, is wise man according to his lights. He never kills the goose with the golden eggs. But regularly, as each New Year comes round, all the provincial Governors of Per eia undergo the process of squeezing at the royal hands. There must be decency in all things, and the king puts the matter deli cately enough. The prime minister sends for the agent of the gentleman who is to be submitted to the process. The agent, know ing we'll what is coming, slaves off the evil day, perhaps for a week or two, by taking to
 his bed and feigning serious illness. This is an opportunity for the king to do turn to one of the royal physicians, who is immedi-
 ately dispatched to the invalid As long as
 the agent wishes to be i'll he must freely bribe the court doctor, but more perempto- " message or more reiterated inquiries as to his health at length summon him to the presence of the minister. The great man points out that he himself is the victim g personal friend, that such hs feels it only kind to communicate in confidence the fact that a very large sum indeed has been of- fered for the governorship. The agent hastens to assure the minister of his princ1- pals gratitude, which he proves by an imme- diate bribe. He then devotes his whole at- tention to trying to obtain the continuance of his principal in office for less amount
 than the sum which is supposed to have been offered by the rival. In some cases he may | even tender the same sum as present to the 1 king, or, if the Governor be very rich or has I been particularly lucky in featharing his | nest, perhaps still larger one. Thus year | by year every governorship-nay, every of- | hce-in Persia is practically sold to the aiga- | est bidder. The prime minister himself has | to go through exactly the same painful pro cess; for all great offices are really held Dy | an annual tenure, though nominally during the king's pleasure. The prices paid for the various appointments are common talk Tn the | bazaar.
 | A Governor then must have been very for | tunate indeed, and skillful plunderer too,
 to keep his hold upon province for period so long as that which the Imad u-Dowlet had
 enjoyed. It must be remembered that a | Governor is not only responsible for the | tranquillity of the province over which he
 rules, but he is also personally liable for the
 | revenue. Each year the king attempts to